Top 10 Awkward Problems that Affected Certain Countries

In 2011, a butter crisis swept Norway as the demand increased and the supply plummeted. After the heavy summer rain in October, demand increase by 20% and a month later it increased by 30%. In December, with Christmas approaching, the prices got insanely high as a pack of butter costed 300 krones which is an equivalent of 50$. The Swedish butter sales crossed the 2000% and it was all going to Norway. People even got arrested trying to smuggle 250 kilos of butter!

9. The toilet paper crises

In 1973, Johnny Carson made a joke about the country running out of toilet paper. And this was all the public needed to panic as the next morning people were queuing up and the joke was forgiven the next night when Carson declared that he was joking. At the same time, Japan was worried about the Arab oil supplies because of the Arab-Israeli war and allegations about tge toilet paper was made and the same queuing happened except for it lasted longer and people ended up having a year’s supply of toilet paper!

In 1910, a shortage in meat happened in America and was followed by wild replacement suggestions. The strongest suggestion was to use the hippopotamus meat and to grow farms for raising them. However, the ministry of agriculture favoured raising more cattle. In the 1960s, hippopotamus meat was still popular and was claimed to be fat-free.

7. The cash crisis in Myanmar

Economically, this country is in a deep need for growth but what kind of growth are we talking about when the banking system is untrusted. People do not have bank accounts and keep their cash in books to be flatenned and without a crease or else, no one would take them. They are trying now to gain the public’s trust but it is a long way to go!

6. The inflation crisis in Hungary

Hungary witnessed the greatest inflation in its entire history in the years 1945 and 1946. The currency has been changed from pengo to adopengo and then to the forint in the government’s trial to stabilise matters. At this time prices increased every 15.6 hours. Just wow!

5. The economic crisis in Switzerland

The problem here was that Switzerland’s economy was too good! They maintained low debt, low unemployment and reasonable exports. However, while Europe was collabsing people had to shift trades to the swiss franc to be on the safe side and this increased the value of the franc by 30%. Good! No it is not, as this only meant that their exports were more expensive. The country had to weaken its own economy to adapt!

4. The genetalia crisis in African countries

In Congo, Nigeria and Ghana, different people have claimed to have been robbed of their genitals by sorcerers wearing gold rings and casting spells in 2008, 2001 and 1990. The victims have alleged that their genitals are either not their or are shrinking. These allegations lead to the deaths of 37 people who were claimed to be genitals’ snatchers.

3. The Napa cabbage crisis in South Korea

Kimchi is a very popular plate in South Korea and that is exactly why it is served with every single meal. In 2010, the price of the cabbage which is the superstar of the dish increased by 500%. With this inflation, came a shortage that made the country unwillingly use inferior cabbage imported from the US.

2. The paintbrushes crisis in Australia

In 1944, Australia wanted to build enough affordable houses to the public but they ran out of paintbrushes. As strange as it is, they also ran out of the pig bristles which are used in their manufacturing. The only country who had it at that time was China and China was in civil war which made and exportation an extremely difficult task. It took the Aussies five months to get from China!

1. The laboratory mice crisis in America

In May 1989, The Jackson laboratory in Maine catched a huge fire that ruined the whole facility. It was a tragic disaster as the lab supplied 11,200 labs around the world with 40,000 mice a week. Researches were abandoned and on-going experiments were interrupted by the huge event.